1
as in risk
a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized
the drug lowers cholesterol, but the catch-22 is that it mainly lowers good cholesterol
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2
as in dilemma
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape
the catch-22 faced by every first-time loan applicant: how to get a loan without a credit history
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3
as in problem
a situation in which one has to choose between two or more equally unsatisfactory choices
an environmental catch-22: building wind farms results in scenic eyesores; not building wind farms results in greater pollution from fossil fuels
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of catch-22
California is also in danger of creating an energy catch-22 whereby the push to go green could hobble the state’s clean power efforts.
—
George Avalos, The Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2025
Trying to simplify your analysis of all responses also creates something of a catch-22: The more rigid and structured your RFP becomes, the less space potential vendors have to demonstrate their abilities as thought partners.
—Oliver Kimberley, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Really, this is the catch-22 at the heart of the modern celebrity CEO and social media.
—Callum Booth, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
California is also in danger of creating an energy catch-22 whereby the push to go green could hobble the state’s clean power efforts.
—George Avalos, The Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catch-22
George Avalos, The Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2025
Trying to simplify your analysis of all responses also creates something of a catch-22: The more rigid and structured your RFP becomes, the less space potential vendors have to demonstrate their abilities as thought partners.
—Oliver Kimberley, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Really, this is the catch-22 at the heart of the modern celebrity CEO and social media.
—Callum Booth, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
California is also in danger of creating an energy catch-22 whereby the push to go green could hobble the state’s clean power efforts.
—George Avalos, The Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catch-22
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catch-22
Noun
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The country could be at risk of losing its elimination status if an outbreak continued for more than one year.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Key challenges, like the risk of exacerbating inequality if access is limited to the rich and the significant energy demands, will need to be addressed.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The deep-sea mining dilemma Deep-sea mining isn’t a new idea.—
Christian Elliott,
Smithsonian Magazine,
21 Apr. 2025
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George Cunningham, senior vice president of public safety with Goldenvoice, explained the dilemma — and the steps being taken to address it — while speaking to the La Quinta City Council Tuesday.—
Tom Coulter,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The night’s crossing of the Athina went off without a hitch, and Captain Hallax arrived home the next morning.—
Silvana Paternostro Nathalia Angarita,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
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Despite these concerns, the plan went off without a hitch.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Why Canned Wine? Archer Roose Wines, co-owned by chief creative officer and actress Elizabeth Banks and CEO Marian Leitner-Waldman, started with this predicament in mind.—
Bryce Jones,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Apr. 2025
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California and other states have spent much of the past decade trying to get out of this predicament by undoing single-family zoning laws and streamlining permitting for apartments, backyard cottages and other higher-density housing.—
Conor Dougherty,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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To avoid these pitfalls, companies need to treat office redesign as a change management project—not just a facilities project.—
Ryan Anderson,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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The pandemic exposed the pitfalls of American reliance on Chinese factories for an array of goods, from parts for ventilators to basic medicines.—
Peter S. Goodman,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The deal on the burgers – each comes with American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, pickles, Smash Sauce, and ketchup on a toasted bun – is good in stores, online and through the Smashburger app.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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According to our readers, classics like the Chicken Sandwich Meal (extra pickles, please) and seasonal treats like the Peach Milkshake are always worth stopping for.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Repair kits are a simple way to patch snags and rips, but replacing a screen can be a better long-term solution.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2025
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The big picture: The council's vote threw a last-minute snag into a plan, years in the making, to centrally organize St. Paul's garbage collection, with a single hauler handling most of the work.—
Kyle Stokes,
Axios,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
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But there’s a bit of a catch: This cellular process can irritate eczema-prone skin.—
Sierra Leone Starks,
Allure,
18 Apr. 2025
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He’s been biding his time since then, throwing plyometric balls in third inning of games, working the bands in the fifth and playing catch with the wall in the seventh, just in case.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Catch-22.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch-22. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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